Latest News
The following news articles were published in 2021.
Omics data suggests larger effect of smoking on body mass index than previously thought
DNA methylation patterns linked to smoking explain ten times more variance than self-reported data: September 2021
Linking mitochondrial dysfunction to induction of the innate immune system
Yanick Crow's team, working with clinical colleagues worldwide, and together with Ashish Dhir (CGEM, IGC) and Tim Wai (Institute Pasteur), have identified mutations in ATAD3A as a novel cause of interferon induction: August 2021
New genes linked to longer reproductive lifespan in women identified
Research, including Generation Scotland volunteer data, identifies nearly 300 variations in genes that can affect reproductive lifespan in women
‘We began as part of the body’ at the Edinburgh Science Festival.
Prof Sara Brown’s recent collaboration with artist Beverley Hood appeared in an Edinburgh Science festival exhibition in Summerhall. Sara and Beverley launched the exhibition with a recorded interview discussing their work.
Fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease - PREdiCCt study data presented at ECCO 2021 congress
Lauranne Derikx, advanced clinical research fellow in the Edinburgh Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) unit and member of Professor Charlie Lees research group, will present this Friday (9 July) baseline data of the PREdiCCt study on the ECCO (European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation) 2021 congress. Her abstract shows that fatigue is highly prevalent in IBD and significantly impacts on all domains of quality of life. July 21.
A new PhD training programme focused on epilepsy research awarded
A new Doctoral Training Centre led by Prof Richard Chin (Child Life and Health) and Prof Cathy Abbott (Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine) has been funded by the charity Epilepsy Research UK. June 21.
A collaboration of art and science
ASCUS Art and Science Collaboration brings the two fields together to produce art work inspired by scientific research. May 21
Epigenetic predictors of lifestyle traits in blood and the brain
A recent publication in the journal Brain Communications from Riccardo Marioni’s group compares DNA methylation patterns seen in blood as predictors of lifestyle traits with epigenetic changes in brain tissue. May 21
TestEd project receives £1.8 million UKRI backing to roll out across the University
A £1.8 million award from UK Research and Innovation will enable the TestEd team to provide fast and cost-effective twice weekly COVID-19 testing across the University.
Inflammatory mediators of severity in COVID-19 infection
A recent publication in Science Immunology from Dr Kenneth Baillie, including work from Prof Yanick Crow and Prof David Hunt, identifies inflammatory mediators implicated in COVID-19 severity. April 21
Integration of genetics, epigenetics and proteomics to predict Alzheimer’s disease
Dr Riccardo Marioni wins Alzheimer’s Society award to study genetic and proteomic predictors of Alzheimer's disease.
April 21
Spinout BioCaptiva launched to unlock cancer detection through liquid biopsy
A spinout from the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine targets the early diagnosis of difficult-to-detect cancers with a new blood-based biopsy device.
IGMM renamed the Institute of Genetics and Cancer
From 1 April the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) will go by a new name, the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC): April 2021
Shining a Light on a rare bone disease XLH
On 2 March, people living with XLH, a rare genetic bone disease, as well as scientists, staff and students from across the Institute and wider university heard about exciting new developments in research into XLH from Professor Stuart Ralston and Ryan Frew, who has XLH, described how his life has been transformed by a new treatment: March 2021
Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow, Professor of Dermatology joins IGMM
Professor Sara Brown has recently moved from Dundee to become part of the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine.
Methylation differences in Alzheimer’s disease associated variants
Research from Dr Kathy Evans’ group (first author Dr Rosie Walker) identifies epigenetic differences between carriers of the APOE ε4 and APOE ε2 alleles, variants associated with an increased and decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, respectively. Jan 21.
Genes could be key to new Covid-19 treatments, study finds
Edinburgh researchers collaborating in the global GenOMICC consortium identify potential treatments for Covid-19 after the discovery of five genes associated with the most severe form of the disease: December 2020
The Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow join forces to train young doctors in musculoskeletal disease
The Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are joining forces to train young doctors in research relevant to the causes and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The ambitious new project which will see the institutions combine their global excellence in biomedical research and teaching to advance understanding of musculoskeletal diseases.
Two new genes involved in Aicardi-Goutières syndrome
A publication in Nature Genetics from Prof Yanick Crow’s laboratory has identified two new genes involved in the Mendelian inflammatory disorder Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.